This startup may have finally solved the problem of bad WiFi

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

YouTube / Eero

Few modern tech problems are as frustrating as having bad WiFi.

Our phones, tablets, computers, thermostats, and even light bulbs can use it for dozens of reasons.

It’s the increasing number of devices that we use, coupled with the fact that houses weren’t built to accommodate a technology that didn’t exist yet, which makes this such a problem.

A couple of years ago, a startup called eero wanted to "solve" the WiFi problem for good by launching a set of routers that connect to one another to form what’s called a mesh network. By setting multiple eero’s up around your home, you’d have more even, consistent coverage.

Physically, the eero routers have changed a little bit, for the better. Instead of shipping multiple identical-looking routers, eero’s system now includes a single hub and one or two "beacons," which are physically smaller.

The beacons plug directly into your wall outlet, like a WiFi range extender, and look more like a Glade plug in. Eero wants you to feel comfortable plugging them in anywhere, so they included a light with an ambient light sensor on the bottom of it. At night it glows light a night light, ideal for dark hallways.

Eero

The hub looks like a traditional eero router but now gets power through a USB-C power adapter. Speaking of USB, the first generations had a couple of USB ports for adding accessories to your network, but this new model does not.

Setting up the new eeros was easier than the old ones. Because the first and second generation hardware is compatible with one another, here’s how the overall setup went: I unpacked the new eero hub, added it to the network through eero’s app, and then swapped the new hub for the old one. I initially thought this wasn’t working, but I hadn’t let the eero fully boot up.

Though physically identical to the old one, I was told that the board inside the new eero hub was completely redesigned, with a third band added for additional range and speed. The new beacons, though somewhat smaller than the eeros they replace have 30% better coverage. All of this was on paper, so I tested it for myself.

I went around to different points in my mom’s condo with all different configurations of eero hardware and used fast.com to determine the internet speed. Generally my results were in line with eero’s predictions — the internet speeds were improved. But sometimes they dipped, proving that WiFi still isn't a totally solved science.

That only happened in one room, so I decided to test the new eero’s range and placed a beacon in a room that was further away from the hub than it had been. Internet speeds improved by a fair amount, and more than once I was able to get the a full connection speed.

Instagram / geteero

Once I found the right spots for the beacons, my tests became a lot more consistent, but I encourage anyone who picks up a set to play around with placement. You don't need to set them up each time you move them, and they're nice-looking enough that they won't look out of place in a bathroom or bedroom.

Another setup tip that's somewhat related is to make sure to turn off the WiFi signal coming from the router you received from the cable company. Eero's beacons might be able to float around, but its hub needs to be connected to your cable modem with an ethernet cable. Having two competing WiFi sources next to one another can disrupt each one's signal, so take five minutes to dig into your cable modem (it's annoying, believe me) and disable the setting. But, believe me, when you see how much of a difference that makes, it'll be worth it.

Eero's slogan with this round of hardware is "never think about WiFi again," and it's more or less made good on that promise. Setup and maintenance are both handled through a well-designed app, which gives you more options and power than you'd have over a standard router while being easier to use.

Your home's layout and the materials used to make it will have a big impact on exactly how well eero's WiFi system will work, but in my experience, it's the best way to "solve" the problem of a weak signal and slow speed.

If you want to see more from Insider Picks, we're collecting emails for an upcoming newsletter. You'll be the first to hear about the stuff we cover. Click here to sign up .

Disclosure: This post is brought to you by Business Insider's Insider Picks team. We aim to highlight products and services you might find interesting, and if you buy them, we get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. We frequently receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising sales team. We welcome your feedback.
Have something you think we should know about? Email us at insiderpicks@businessinsider.com.